A recent airstrike by Myanmar’s military junta has killed at least 40 people in the village of Kyauk Ni Maw, located on Ramree island in western Rakhine state. The attack occurred on Wednesday at around 1:20 pm, when a military jet dropped bombs on the area, causing a fire that destroyed over 500 homes. The bombing is part of the ongoing conflict between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army (AA), an ethnic minority group fighting for control in Rakhine.
The AA, which has captured significant territory in Rakhine over the past year, has essentially isolated the capital city, Sittwe. The military’s airstrike on Kyauk Ni Maw is indicative of the broader violence that has plagued Myanmar since the military’s 2021 coup, which ousted the civilian government of Aung San Suu Kyi and triggered widespread armed resistance.
According to Khaing Thu Kha, a spokesperson for the AA, initial reports indicated 40 civilians were killed and 20 wounded. However, a local rescue worker who was helping in the aftermath reported a higher death toll, with 41 people confirmed dead and 52 others injured. The rescue worker also shared the challenges of providing aid, citing a shortage of medical supplies and difficulties in transportation.
Images from the aftermath show residents navigating through the devastation—charred ruins, scattered debris, and stripped trees. The military has yet to respond to AFP’s request for comment on the bombing.
Ramree island, which has been the site of escalating violence, is also the location of a planned deep-sea port funded by China, intended to serve as a major gateway for Beijing to the Indian Ocean. However, construction on the port has been delayed due to the ongoing conflict in the region.
Myanmar’s military is facing resistance from multiple factions, including youth-led “People’s Defence Forces” and established ethnic armed groups like the AA, which control large territories along the borders. The conflict has exacerbated an already dire humanitarian crisis. In November, the UN Development Programme warned of impending famine in Rakhine, where fighting has disrupted trade and agriculture. According to the United Nations, over 3.5 million people have been displaced by the violence, with nearly 20 million people expected to require aid by 2025.
